

Qass U4.Ij£i£^. 
Book .J^^U.D 



Author 



TiUe 



Imprint . — 



TIME A 
FICTION 

Fact and Fiction 




An Appeal for the Home 



Time a Fiction 

Fact and Fiction 



pg * * ^^ 



A7t Appeal for the Home 






C KC 9^L O W E 

BEDFORD, O. 






Copyright, 1920, by C. C. Lowe 



Written and Published by C. C. Lowe 
Bedford, Ohio 



Printed by The J. B. Savage Co. 

CLEVELAND, OHIO 



By Mail 10c. 



©C1A600257 

ftf -8 1920 



FORE-WORD 



TN the winter of 1915-1916, a booklet en- 
^ titled 'Teaven, an Appeal for the 
Church/' came into existence through my 
instrumentality. Immediately after receiv- 
ing the booklet from the printer, about 200 
copies were mailed to ministers of Cleve- 
land and vicinity of all denominations, but 
no congenial soil was found on orthodox 
ground, for the reason that in it were point- 
ed out errors in interpretation of the teach- 
ing of Jesus, which being adopted by the 
Mother Church and handed down to her 
offspring, have been ''stumbling blocks'' in 
the way to the Kingdom of Heaven since 
the day of Pentecost. 

The first story in this book was offered 
first to the ''Youth's Companion" and then 
to the "Catholic Universe" for publication 
free, but neither used it. 

This little book is therefore dedicated to 
Spiritualism: Spiritualism, "which was in 
the beginning, is now and ever shall be." 

If Orthodoxy would read her bible with 
her eyes open she would find abundance of 

— 3 — 



evidence of the communion and helpfulness 
of those who have graduated from the 
school of experience in earth life, which is 
the fundamental fact claimed by "modern 
spiritualism/' so-called, which dates back 
only to the year 1848. In the last chapter 
of the last book of the new testament, the 
''beloved disciple," after having prefixed his 
prophecy by saying: ''1 was in the Spirit 
on the Lord's day," concludes with these 
words : 

''And I, John, saw these things, and heard 
them. And when I had heard and seen, I 
fell down to worship before the feet of the 
angel which showed me these things. Then 
saith he unto me, see thou do it not: for / 
am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren 
the prophets, and of them which keep the 
sayings of this book : worship God." In the 
same chapter we find: "If any man shall 
add unto these things, God shall add unto 
him the plagues that are written in this book, 
and if any man shall take away from the 
words of the book of this prophecy, God 
shall take away his part out of the book of 
life, and out of the holy city, and from the 
things which are written in this book." 



It is impossible that the ''beloved disciple" 
could have given utterance to these words 
so diametrically opposed to the teachings of 
the Great Master, but they were interpo- 
lated by the Mother Church, whose purpose 
was, from the beginning, to obtain dominion 
over the whole world, pertaining to both 
religion and civil government, and to gain 
her end by keeping her followers in ignor- 
ance and ruling through the agency of 
superstitious fear. 

The world is today paying the penalty of 
the errors of the past, the innocent suffering 
with the guilty. 

If the light of modern spiritualism could 
be shed abroad now in the dark corners of 
the human mind, and all the creeds of 
Christendom be lowered for humanity to 
step over and shake hands with each other, 
the ''kingdom of heaven'' would again be 
"at hand." 

God, once upon a time, used a boy and a 
pebble to slay a giant, and slew him, not- 
withstanding all the boy's friends said it was 
impossible. 

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what 
the Spirit saith unto the churches." 



THE POWER OF MOTHER LOVE. 

"I will arise and go to my father." 

About fifty years ago there lived in 
^ ^ the rural suburbs of a large New Eng- 
land town, a farmer by the name of Thomas 
Jefferson Smith. He was deacon in the 
nearby M. E. Church, and was, for short, 
called ''Deacon Smith'' by most of his 
acquaintances, but certain boys and young 
men in the neighborhood, if they had occa- 
sion to mention him, referred to him as 
''Old Tom Smith.'' Boys have their own 
peculiar reasons for some of their ways, but 
to find out what those reasons are you have 
to be chummy with them, and ingratiate 
yourself into their confidence. 

God had blessed the deacon with a de- 
voted wife, whose only wish seemed to be 
to obey his will, and as his will was ample 
for both, if she ever believed herself posses- 
sor of a soul, she never dared to say it was 
her own. 

At the period of the beginning of my 
acquaintance with them, the family circle, 
consisting of father, mother, two daughters 
and two sons, was unbroken. 



The older son, John, was married and 
Hved on the adjoining farm which had been 
a part of the old homestead. Being the old- 
est child, preceding in birth the daughter, 
who next arrived, by about three years, he 
had followed in the footsteps of his father, 
never even dreaming of any other way, and 
was a respected member of the M. E. 
church, of which his wife was also a mem- 
ber. 

The daughters, Mary and Annie, were 
both quiet, well-behaved girls who loved 
their mother, and were duly respectful to 
their father for her sake, and both were 
members of the same class in Sunday- 
school. 

The younger son, Fred, who was about 
seventeen years of age, was different from 
the others. He seemed, at quite an early 
period in his life, to have become conscious 
of a will of his own ; the other members of 
the family also became aware of that fact 
as his will did not always harmonize with 
that of his father, and many a wordy con- 
flict between them had ' emphasized the 
marked divergence. 

Deacon Smith was as exacting and 
methodical in his rules of worship as the 

— 8 — 



name of his church implies; and from the 
day he and his wife set up housekeeping in 
a home of their own and he became con- 
scious that he was the head of a family, 
until the time of which I write, not a day 
had passed unsanctified by family worship, 
consisting of scripture reading and prayer. 
The bible had been read through and 
through by course until it had become al- 
most a matter of form to open the book, so 
firmly were its contents fixed in his memory. 

His daily needs being nearly the same, 
scarcely a sentence had been changed in his 
prayer since he first arranged it to apply to 
himself and family. All the children except 
Fred accepted the situation without a mur- 
mur, but Fred often rebelled and was often 
punished for his stubbornness. 

Another custom of the deacon was as 
invariable as his family worship; that of 
repairing to the basement immediately after 
breakfast, uncorking a jug kept in a seclud- 
ed place and partaking of a small portion 
of the contents "for his stomach's sake.'' 

Of course the liiother knew all about it, 
but the children, having seen the same 
occurrence from day to day since their in- 
fancy, thought no more of it than of the 

— 9 — 



family worship. It was simply so much 
time taken from other activities, and if hard 
work had been laid out for the day, they 
were willing to wait. 

One day Fred was looking around in the 
basement in search of a garden tool and 
accidentally discovered the jug. His sus- 
picions immediately pointed out his father 
as the owner, and explained his daily visit 
to the basement. The discovery caused him 
to tremble with fear lest his father should 
become aware of his discovery, however 
innocent he might be, for the reason that 
many times he had witnessed terrific display 
of his father's temper when refusing to be 
convinced that his father's ways should be 
his ways. 

His curiosity however gained the mastery 
over his fear, and, first looking cautiously 
around to see if he were observed, he care- 
fully removed the cork, and, raising the jug 
to his lips, took what he intended should be 
only a taste, but which accidentally proved 
to be quite a mouthful. He was almost 
strangled and, in spite of his caution, made 
so much noise that he imagined the whole 
family would descend upon him before he 
could make his escape. 

— 10 — 



I 



Replacing the jug as noiselessly as pos- 
sible he hastened to the rear of the barn, 
where he seated himself upon a large stump 
and there waited and watched for develop- 
ments. The first sensation noticeable after 
his convulsion of fear had passed away, 
was a most disagreeable taste in his mouth 
and a smarting in his throat, but when that 
had partly subsided there was a feeling of 
exhilaration in his veins never before 
experienced. He was now thoroughly 
alarmed as to the final effect, which proved 
to be the most severe headache he had ever 
suffered. 

Fred had a chum a year younger than 
himself, who was his almost constant com- 
panion whenever any time could be allowed 
for recreation, as he lived on an adjoining 
farm and a shrill w^histle from either would 
soon bring the other to his side. 

Tom Brown's parents were much respect- 
ed in the neighborhood on account of their 
many deeds of charity, and their willing- 
ness to spend time or lend money to accom- 
modate any in distress. They were not 
church members, and seldom attended 
church, except at funerals, but they found 
no fault with any who wished to attend, 
— 11 — 



and were perfectly willing their children, 
Tom and Mattie, should go to both church 
and Sunday-school whenever they wished, 
and they often went with deacon Smith's 
children. As for themselves they preferred 
relaxation from their weekday toil, strolling 
in the nearby woods, or about the farm 
observing the growth of plants and fruit 
and their sleek young stock ; or in friendly 
chat with neighbors who, like themselves, 
felt no restraint of custom. They loved their 
children dearly, and their love was fully 
reciprocated and rewarded by willing obedi- 
ence whenever a request was made of them, 
and no harsh or unkind words were ever 
passed among the members of the happy 
family. 

Fred and Tom were frequently together 
on Sundays, and as Tom had a pack of 
playing cards given him by his father, which 
they often used at home of an evening, he 
had taught Fred the game and they occa- 
sionally indulged in a pleasant trial of skill, 
although they were always extremely care- 
ful to conceal the fact from Fred's father, 
as they had good reason to believe he would 
disapprove of such amusement. 

— 12 — 



One warm Sunday morning in June Tom 
came strolling through the lot back of dea- 
con Smith's barn, followed by his dog, on 
his way to the creek to have a plunge in a 
deep pool concealed by a grove of shady 
trees, when, catching sight of Fred, he 
whistled softly, and invited him to go for a 
swim. 

Fred had never ventured to tell Tom 
about his experience with the jug, and had 
no intention of doing so, for fear the secret 
might be revealed to his father. 

Fred knew he would have ample time to 
prepare for Sunday-school even if he should 
spend a little time with his chum, and he had 
no thought other than that of going with 
the rest of the family, so they went together 
to the pool, had their swim and started back 
to the house, when Tom accidentally dis- 
covered the deck of cards in one of his 
pockets, and immediately suggested a little 
game before Sunday-school, and told Fred 
if he would do so he would then hurry 
home, get ready -and go with him. Fred 
agreed and they went by a rear stairway to 
the loft of the horse-barn, and, sitting down 
to an improvised table, began the game. 

— 13 — 



They became so interested that they took 
no note of time, and did not even hear the 
steps of Fred's father cautiously ascending 
the front stairs to the loft, until he had 
come within a few feet of them and his 
shadow fell across the table. The deacon 
had started out to look for Fred, haunted 
with his customary suspicion that Fred was 
up to some deviltry and had no intention of 
going to Sunday-school. On discovering the 
boys at a game of the devil's own invention, 
one that had sent so many of God's child- 
ren to eternal torment, he was speechless, 
smitten with the thought of his own respon- 
sibility and the fate of his son, and his 
appearance was frightful to behold. In 
terror Tom fled down the stirway up which 
he and Fred had come, and towards his own 
home as fast as his legs could carry him. 

Fred arose facing his father, his jaws 
.were set, his eyes glared like those of a 
tiger, reflecting the gaze of his father's, but 
not a muscle of his body moved. The 
deacon, governed by the thought of the ven- 
geance of an angry God and the salvation 
of his son, rushed down the stairs, snatched 
the new rawhide whip from the surrey and 
returned looking more like a madman than 

— 14 — 



a loving father, and approaching within 
reach of his son, raised the whip for a blow. 
Fred seemed to take in the whole situation 
at a glance, even to reading his father's 
thoughts, and feeling that he had done 
wrong and deserved punishment, determin- 
ed to receive it like a man, and stood 
motionless with his eyes riveted upon his 
father while he dealt blow after blow upon 
his defenseless back, covered only with a 
thin summer shirt, until he could feel the 
blood trickling down even to his heels. 
After the first blow or two the deacon seem- 
ed to lose all sense of humanity, and raved 
like a wild beast in incoherent epithets of 
condemnation, until he was almost exhaust- 
ed, when, dropping the whip, he turned, 
and staggering like a drunken man, he re- 
traced his steps to the first floor, descended 
to the basement, and, in a secluded corner, 
fell upon his knees, and his soul burst 
forth in agony of prayer for the salvation of 
his son. 

Fred stood for a moment feeling around 
in the darkness of his mind for some sug- 
gestion as to what he should do. He could 
hear the sound of his father's voice as it 
swept up to the loft in waves of anguish, 

— 15 — 



but he could not distinguish a single word. 
He thought of his mother whom he loved 
dearly, and believed it would break her 
heart if she were to know what had hap- 
pened. He thought of his brother and sis- 
ters, but he was aware that they looked 
upon him as the ''black sheep" of the flock, 
and would probably be relieved by his 
absence. He knew that he must decide 
quickly if he kept the secret from his moth- 
er, so he slowly descended the stairway 
down which Tom had fled, and, staggering 
from the strain of his effort to maintain 
self-control, wended his way to the pool 
vv^here he and Tom had recently had a joy- 
ous swim, to wash his wounds and cleanse 
his clothes from the stains of blood. 

Fred Smith disappeared from the com- 
munity as suddenly and effectually as 
though the earth had opened beneath his 
feet and closed over his head. Tom Brown 
knew nothing of what transpired after he 
left the barn, and was too thoroughly 
frightened to make any attempt to ascertain. 

Deacon Smith ''wrestled with God'' until 
the fervor of his prayer was consumed by 
its own heat, when he suddenly became 
aware that it must be time to start for Sun- 



■16- 



day-school. He was teacher of a large 
bible-class, and, during the twenty years he 
had held that position, had never failed to 
be in his place promptly at commencement 
time. He now repaired to the watering tank 
at the rear of the barn, and bathed his over- 
heated face in the fresh cool water. He 
then ascended to the loft to look for Fred, 
but he was not there. Knowing that the 
boy had a will, which, even at his age, was 
almost equal in power to his own, he 
thought it would be futile to spend any time 
looking for him, and, thinking he would 
return home by evening, he hastened to the 
house to prepare for Sunday-school. He 
had occasion now for a display of the full 
power of his will, to maintain a degree of 
composure necessary to conceal from his 
wife the tempest still raging in his soul ; but 
he prided himself that he never had flinched 
from the discharge, of his duty, however 
great the effort required. His wife met him 
at the door with an anxious look, because 
she had not seen Fred preparing for Sun- 
day-school as was his custom on Sunday 
mornings, and anxiously scanning her hus- 
band's face she saw that he was disturbed 
in mind, and naturally associated Fred's 

-—17 — 



absence and the unusual appearance of her 
husband, but she dared not mention her sus- 
picion to him. The other members of the 
family were finally ready, and all went on 
their way, but, for the first time in his life, 
the deacon was late in getting to his class. 

I also had a class of young men, and Fred 
was one of the members. His attendance 
was average, and he was always respectful, 
but I was unable to arouse any interest in 
him in regard to the salvation of his soul. 
In fact he seemed entirely unconscious of 
a soul, and once, in response to a question, 
asked : how can I lose what I have notf 

I was quite intimate with the family on 
account of Fred's being a member of my 
class, so I stepped across the room and in- 
quired of the deacon as to the cause of 
Fred's absence. I received an evasive ans- 
wer coupled with a look that determined 
me to be less inquisitive in the future and 
draw conclusions from silent observation. 

Time passed and nothing was heard of 
Fred. His mother's heart became the 
sepulcher of a mystery that rapidly sapped 
her life away. For a few days after Fred's 
departure his brother and sisters would in- 
quire of each other : ''What do you stippose 

— 18 — 



has become of Fred?'' Then mention of his 
name ceased in the household, the brother 
and sisters each reaching the same conclu- 
sion that he had gone to a ''far country'' to 
''sow his wild oats." The mother gradually 
faded away like a flower "cut down" ; going 
mechanically about her work until too feeble 
to continue the performance of her house- 
hold duties, and in June the third year after 
Fred's departure she was no longer able to 
arise from her bed. The best physicians in 
the neighboring city were summoned, but 
none could determine the cause of her de- 
cline, and no remedies prescribed seemed to 
produce the least effect. On the anniver- 
sary of Fred's departure she folded her 
arms across her breast, and, without a 
struggle or any evidence of pain, entered 
into rest. The funeral was without un- 
necessary display ; the aged pastor, who had 
known her from childhod, spoke eloquently 
of her many virtues, commended her spirit 
to the beneficent Father of all, and, so far 
as human eye could discern, her earthly 
labor was completed. 

Deacon Smith turned away from the 
grave with a far-away look in his eyes and 

— 19 — 



the weight of a mill-stone upon his heart. 
He never smiled again. 

Within a few months thereafter he was 
taken with an illness as mysterious as that 
of his wife. He could not concentrate his 
thoughts upon any business, and finally had 
to give up his bible-class. 

One night about a year after the death of 
his wife, he retired early, being unusually 
weary from his effort to transact some im- 
portant business during the day and soon 
fell asleep. About midnight he thought he 
was awakened by an unusual sound, and 
opening his eyes he saw, standing beside his 
bed, the most beautiful woman he had ever 
seen. She was robed in white and a crown 
of gold rested upon her head in which, 
directly over her forehead, was a cluster of 
beautiful diamonds, four in number, and in 
her right hand she held a white scroll, 
which, as he gazed uj)on it, slowly unrolled, 
disclosing in letters of light the words: ''I 
am your guardian angel ; it is right that you 
should love me ; if you would know me look 
within your own soul' and you will find 
me." 

Slowly the scroll and its bearer faded 
away; and the deacon awoke with a shock 

— 20 — 



like that from an electric battery. Perspira- 
tion was standing in great beads upon his 
brow and his whole body shook like an 
autumn leaf in the wind. So vivid was the 
dream that it lingered in his mind like a 
pleasant phantom for weeks. He continued 
his labor upon the farm, after a fashion, 
about a year thereafter, when he also took 
to his bed to arise no more. As with his 
wife so with himself; the doctors were 
puzzled and were unable to stay the myster- 
ious hand reaching out to gather him to the 
harvest. 

Poor Fred! Like a ship at sea without 
sail or rudder he drifted wherever the wind 
of adversity drove him, until finally he was 
driven ashore in a large western town far 
from the home of his boyhood. Alone ! 
Alone in a crowded city ! Can you imagine 
loneliness more appalling? In his heart he 
bore the seed-germ of eternal life ; his moth- 
er's love. Never had he failed of receiving 
sympathy and consolation from her when- 
ever driven to almost overwhelming des- 
peration by the severity of his father. He 
had received no word from home since his 
departure therefrom. 

— 21 — 



Many times in his quiet, thoughtful 
moments he had been drawn almost irre- 
sistibly toward home by the image of the 
sweet, mournful, yearning face of his moth- 
er, but always there arose between it and 
him the last tragic scene of his home-life, 
and the stern, unrelenting look upon his 
father's face as he last saw it, and he could 
not summon courage to return. He had 
obtained work and was doing fairly well in 
a business sense, but the poverty of his 
heart was the most prominent feature of 
his life. He must have companionship. 

He made the acquaintance of some of his 
fellow workmen, who, for lack of a better 
place to meet, often came together in a 
saloon, where they would have a game of 
cards, enlivened with a few glasses of beer, 
and sometimes something stronger. Fred 
never forgot the jug in the basement at 
home, nor the pleasurable sensation he ex- 
perienced after samphng its contents, and 
the fact that he had never observed any bad 
effect upon his father from the systematic 
use of whisky, he feared no danger from 
his doing as his associates did, and so he 
became more and more addicted to strong 
drink until, on several occasions, he requir- 

— 22 — 



L 



ed assistance to reach his boarding place. 
He and his friends sometimes met where 
unfortunate women mingled with the men 
and played and drank with no restraint. 
Fred could never be induced to contribute 
in the least to the degradation of a woman ; 
his mother's love always presenting her 
sweet face in times of temptation of that 
kind. 

One Saturday night, the week's work hav- 
ing been completed, and the men having 
drawn liberal pay for their labor, they 
assembled in a saloon as usual, and to make 
the game with cards more interesting, they 
put up money and played for keeps. About 
midnight the game became intensely excit- 
ing, and beer and whisky having been used 
quite freely, a dispute arose between Fred 
and one of the other young men, which 
grew hot and hotter, until, in a fit of rage, 
his antagonist drew a huge knife from an 
inner pocket and slashed Fred across the 
face and breast, causing the blood to spurt 
clear across the table. A great commotion 
arose, Fred fell upon his face and his 
assailant fled from the room. 

— 23 — 



The saloon-keeper rushed in from the 
bar-room, and taking in the situation at a 
glance, and knowing that something must 
be done immediately, called an ambulance, 
and, as there was near by a hospital sup- 
ported by the Roman Catholic church of 
which he was a member, he had him taken 
there with the utmost speed. 

With prompt attendance of skilled sur- 
geon and nurse, the wounds were soon 
stanched and he was restored to conscious- 
ness. On opening his eyes he beheld the 
sweet spiritual face of a woman bending 
over him with an appearance of anxiety, 
which soon passed away as she observed 
the remaining life current resuming its cus- 
tomary channels. As Fred looked into her 
eyes the image of his mother arose in his 
memory, and tears glistened for a moment 
in his eyes, then slowly trickled across his 
cheek and fell upon the pillow. 

Fred's recovery was very slow on account 
of loss of blood, and while lying in bed 
waiting restoration of strength he had ample 
time for reflection. 

There arose in his heart an almost irre- 
sistible desire to return home. The voice 



I 



of his mother seemed to be calling: ''Come 
home dear boy, come home/' 

Fred had never had any acquaintance 
with members of the Roman Catholic 
church ; he had been taught to shun them as 
vipers; that a Roman Catholic priest is a 
favored emissary of the devil, and that the 
Pope of Rome is his personal representa- 
tive and endued with power to carry on his 
work in the world. The daily attendance 
of the sweet-faced sister, whose only will 
seemed to be to anticipate his needs and 
alleviate his suffering; the touch of her 
hands as she carefully removed the band- 
ages, cleansed the wounds and bound them 
again; the look of solicitation and sisterly 
love manifested in every act, were a revela- 
tion to him. When he was able to return 
to work he resolved to forsake his accus- 
tomed haunts and the companions who had 
led him astray; to find work in another 
shop, and seek a new boarding place, and he 
carried out his resolution successfully. 

The hand of some invisible friend seemed 
to lead him that the object lesson received 
at the hospital should not be forgotten, for 

— 25 — 



he obtained board and room in a pleasant 
home, the only members of which were hus- 
band and wife. Nature, for some unexplic- 
able cause, had deprived them of the joys 
of parentage, and the affection which would 
have been lavished upon a large family 
seemed concentrated into almost super- 
natural devotion to each other. 

He soon learned that they were members 
of the same church which maintained the 
hospital where he had been restored to 
health, and, having no children, and being 
well able, were large contributors to both 
church and hospital. They were about the 
age of Fred's parents, and he learned to 
love them dearly, as they used every avail- 
able means to make his life pleasant. He 
observed that they were punctual and strict 
in the observance of every form of worship 
prescribed by the church, yet had no appear- 
ance of being in bondage, and never inquir- 
ed of him in regard to his religious belief. 

Nearly two years passed in this quiet 
home without an unpleasant word or unkind 
act, and Fred might have been content there 
all his life, were it not for the fact that his 

— 26 — 



mother's face was constantly before him, 
whether in the shop, at work, on the street, 
sitting in his quiet room evenings with a 
book, and even in his dreams. 

He had saved quite a sum of money, more 
than enough to pay his fare, and he finally 
determined to go home. He reached his 
home town in June, five years after his 
departure therefrom, and fearing to go 
directly home from which he had received 
no message, and I, being his old Sunday- 
school teacher, and being looked upon by 
him as a true friend, he very naturally came 
to me for information. I could hardly be- 
lieve him to be Fred Smith, the bold, defiant 
and independent boy who had disappeared 
five years before. He bore an ugly scar 
across his face, a constant reminder of his 
past folly, but his whole body in every 
movement was evideiice of a fully develop- 
ed soul. He modestly and truthfully told 
me his story, making no effort at conceal- 
ment of his errorS) and when he had con- 
cluded with a frank confession of the cause 
of his return, I felt that in his presence I 
was standing upon holy ground. As gently 

— 27 — 



as I could I told him of his mother's transi- 
tion on the anniversary of his leaving home 
three years before; of the singular conduct 
of his father, and that now he seemed very 
near the end of his earthly pilgrimage; I 
then asked him if he could not forgive and 
see his father once more before his depart- 
ure. 

For a long time he sat without uttering 
a word, and I could see his body convulsed 
with a mighty struggle, which gradually 
grew less and less until his higher self 
gained complete victory over his stubborn 
will, when, slowly raising his face from his 
hands in which it had been hidden, he stood 
upon his feet a giant of strength, and with 
a radiance upon his brow that for the 
moment minimized the ugly scar and ans- 
wered : *'I will go." 

Shortly thereafter he stood by his father's 
bedside gazing down upon him as he seemed 
to sleep. 

Five years before on that very day Fred 
had fled from his wrath, now his father lay 
before him, his physical strength, so em- 
phatically demonstrated then, now reduced 

— 28 — 



to a minimum; a faint smile wreathed his 
Hps, which presently gave way to a look of 
mysterious awe. The same lovely woman 
again appeared at his bedside and his mem- 
ory reverted to the contents of the scroll 
then shown to him; now she looked upon 
him with tender persuasiveness as a scroll 
she held in her right hand slowly unrolled 
revealing these words of life : ''Love sufFer- 
eth long and is kind/' It was the beautiful 
vision which caused the smile upon his lips ; 
its gradual disappearance the shadow of 
mysterious awe. 

Just then Fred's voice broke the silence 
with these words spoken in a subdued tone : 
''Father do you know me?'' The deacon 
slightly turned his head and opened his eyes 
which peered into the eyes of his son. His 
eyes brightened as he appeared to look 
"within the veil" on the very soul of his 
son, where he could see "neither spot nor 
blemish." 

Convulsively throwing his arms about 
Fred's neck he drew him to his bosom. Not 
another word was spoken. After a short 
period the father's arms relaxed and Fred 



gently unclasped them and folded them 
across his father's breast. 

The deacon had learned the supreme les- 
son of earth-life just as he departed there- 
from. 



Q. The spot on earth nearest heaven? 
A. A harmonious home. 



Whoever in anger smites a child, smites the 
image of God nearest his kingdom. 



The best use one can make of the past is to 
profit by its errors. 



"Dickery, Dickery Dock, 
The mouse ran up the clock." 

Q. Why did the mouse run the clock up? 
A. Because the clock did not run the mouse 
down. 



■so- 



TIME A FICTION(?) 

"A thousand years in thy sight are but as yes- 
terday.'" 

As I lay in my bed and wrestled with Thought, 
Who appeared as a giant to me, 
Into the mysteries of life I sought, 
And of eternity. 

The question of Time and of Space as well; 
The question of Heaven, the question of Hell, 
What people believe and what they think, 
'Til of sleep I could get not another wink. 
We know that in this world is life and death 
And between the two but a fleeting breath; 
We look at the sun as it seems to climb, 
And reckon as gold the passing time. 
Our hair grows gray as the years go round 
Because in the sense of time we're bound. 
But our heart may sing with eternal joy 
In the blithesome sense of girl or boy. 
If we pause in our speed to reach the grave, 
Conserving our strength our health to save, 
And seek for the treasure tried and true 
That lies 'twixt the ''old time" and the "new." 
Before the great Master humbly bow 
And acknowledge the "everlasting now/' 
The earth at its surface speeds round and round 
At a rapid rate, as has been found, 
For thus it begun and thus must go. 
And the storm descen-ds and the wild winds blow. 
But as from the surface toward the center we tend 
The speed must decrease till it comes to an end. 
'Tis the surface of life that is swept by storm; 
That portion of life surrounded by form, 

— 31 — 



But in the depths of the soul where the angels 

dwell 
Is the kingdom of God they love so well. 
"There shall be no night there," in the Book it is 

said; 
The sun measures time for only the dead. 
Even they who are dead may yet learn to live, 
If, obeying the Master, they learn to forgive. 
Life as complete with its earth and its heaven. 
Its proneness to err and yet be forgiven; 
Its bitter and sweet, its sorrow and joy. 
With something to do the mind to employ; 
The feeling that each is unto the other 
A household relation of sister and brother, 
Is about all we could ask if permitted to choose. 
With so much to learn and nothing to lose. 



The lightning is harnessed abolishing Space, 
The phonograph record abolishes Time, 
The wireless invention has set thought apace 
Toward the region of Spirit so vast and sublime 
And man in his infancy yet seemeth to sleep 
Still "rocked in the cradle of" (life and) "the 
deep." 

•I* *^ ^ *i* 'f* 

"Ding dong bell," no water in the well? 

What a sad, sad thing! 
If big "Jack Stout" knows what he is about 

He'll get ^'living water'^ from the Spring. 



The trinity of Deity? 

Love, WisdorO. and Life. 



The trinity of man? 

Body, Soul and Spirit. 



— 32 — 



PLUG AND GET-THERE. 
A Fairy Story for the ''Kids/' 

"Faith: The substance of things hoped for/' 

/^ NCE Upon a time, a man, who was 
nicknamed 'Tlug-Ugly'' on account of 
his unpleasant disposition, Uved in a large 
manufacturing town not a thousand miles 
from here. 

He was twenty-five years of age, and had 
a wife ''Susie,'' and a son "Johnny.'' They 
lived in a rented house, not large, but very 
comfortable, because Susie was tidy and a 
good housewife. She worried some, how- 
ever, for fear something would get mis- 
placed or that her husband or Johnny would 
step on her clean floor with dirty shoes. 

Mr. Ugly w^orked in a large shop where 
many other men were employed, and he was 
a good workman, l^ut he was all the time 
grumbling about something. His work was 
too much or too little, and he was never 
at a loss for something to find fault about ; 

— 33 — 



he even scolded Johnny, and scowled and 
grumbled at Susie, although he loved her 
dearly on account of her bemg so good to 
him, and of his loving himself so well. 

He took no pleasure in his work, but he 
had worked whenever there was work for 
him in the shop, because he wanted a home 
of his own, and he had saved several hun- 
dred dollars. 

Mr. Ugly had an invisible "friend'' who 
was with him all the time, making sugges- 
tions which seemed to be for his benefit. 
He never had seen him, and could not see 
him because he was within himself, and he 
had never thought of looking there. One 
day a great business boom hit the shop and 
he had to work harder than ever. Of course 
he got more pay, and he liked that all right, 
but his ^'friend'' suggef^ted that his employer 
was making too much money out of his 
work. So he and some of the other men 
got together and talked-^the matter over and 
decided to go on strike ; and they did. Then 
the shop closed down and Mr. Ugly had 
nothing to do for a long time, and of course 

— 34 — 



the money he had saved had to be used 
Uttle by Httle, until he became entirely dis- 
couraged. 

Then his ''friend'' suggested that he join 
the socialists, as they know that everything 
is all wrong in the business world, and they 
know how to remedy every evil. So he 
sent in his name and became a member, 
hoping they might give him a paying office 
and make life easier. 

While he was out of work he often met 
v/ith his new acquaintances who were in the 
habit of drinking beer and whisky, and al- 
though he never had drank any himself, and 
was bitterly opposed to it, his ''friend" 
suggested that it would be all right to have 
a glass or two just for sociability, and he 
gave way. Not being accustomed to strong 
drink he soon became drunken, and several 
times went home in tli;^ condition feeling so 
much like his name, that one day when 
Susie reproved him, he struck her, and then 
catching a glimpse of Johnny, he gave him 
a kick that caused him to cry bitterly. 

One morning he awoke with a terrible 
pain in his head, and thinking the matter 



— 35 — 



over, he decided something must be done; 
money most gone, no work and no show 
for any, and he in the way of temptation 
every day. Besides, Susie was becoming 
sick and discouraged ; often wept, but never 
smiled, and Mr. Ugly really felt bad, and 
was sorry for her and Johnny too. Then 
his ''friend'' suggested that he go onto a 
farm; that there he would be independent; 
have plenty of wholesome food, fresh air 
and spring-water ; and that he go to a ''dry 
town" and get away from saloons and his 
associates who had led him astray. The 
proposition looked good to him, and aroused 
hope of success. So he presented the matter 
to his wife, and, although she had little 
faith in the venture, because she knew that 
he knew nothing about farming; but inas- 
much as when the shop started up after the 
strike a man had b(^; i put in his place, be- 
cause at that time he was training around" 
with the socialists, and did not seem to care 
for work, she finallj^ consented, and he 
started out and rented a farm for three 
years with the privilege of buying at the 
end of that time. He knew he must have 

— 36 — 



a team, wagon and farming implements, and 
as he hadn't much money, he thought he 
could get along with one horse the first 
year, so he went to a sales-stable and select- 
ed a large horse of about his own age. It 
was nearly blind and could not hear very 
well, but Mr. Ugly bought some corn and 
oats and a big whip, and thought he would 
do very well. He forgot to inquire the name 
of the horse, and thinking he should have 
one for convenience, he divided his own 
name, giving him the front end of it, and 
named him "Plug.'' He always carried the 
cruel whip because Plug was so slow; and 
sometimes Plug would become so weary 
that he would balk outright. Then Mr. 
Ugly would apply the whip until Plug, 
thinking it would be easier to move on than 
to stand, would start up again. 

Spring opened and Mr. Ugly began work, 
but things went no better on the farm than 
in the shop. The weather was too cold or 
too hot ; too wet or too dry ; the frost killed 
his early plants and the birds carried his 
seed away, and everything looked blue 
except the sky. 

— 37 — 



One morning Susie said : ''Dear husband, 
we are out of flour and meal and I cannot 
bake until we have some/' So Mr. Ugly 
hitched Plug to the wagon, loaded on some 
corn and oats he had bought to have ground 
for Plug, and started for the mill, thinking 
he could pick out some of the best of the 
corn to have ground for Susie to bake. He 
had not gone far when Plug thought he 
must rest, and he stopped stark still in the 
middle of the road. Then something mys- 
terious happened. There was in that 
country a very wealthy man by the name 
of '7c>yful-'' He always drove a strong 
sleek horse and either a fine carriage or 
strong new wagon ; the wagon always 
empty. He never carried a whip, and the 
name of his horse was ''Get-There." 

But the strangest of all was, that how- 
ever much Mr. Joyful drove around the 
country, hardly anyone ever saw him; and 
no difference how many horses and wagons 
he gave away, he always had the same num- 
ber left: enough. Now as he drove along 
the road whisthng to himself, he espied Mr. 

— 38 — 



Ugly and Plug. Mr. Ugly would not have 
seen him had he not spoken, but when Mr. 
Joyful said : ^'Hello there r Mr. Ugly, look- 
ed, and when Mr. Joyful spoke again he 
saw Get-There fairly dancing with life, and 
looking as though he would like to be hitch- 
ed to a heavy load. 

"How would you like to swap horses and 
wagans?" said Mr. Joyful. Mr. Ugly 
thought he was joking, and pinched himself 
to see if he were awake, but when Mr. Joy- 
ful assured him he had plenty more and 
proposed an even trade he accepted his 
offer. 

The grain was soon loaded into the new 
wagon and Mr. Ugly went on his way re- 
joicing. But before allowing him to go, 
Mr. Joyful said to him : ''Now remember ; 
you will never need a whip, and you will 
never need to feed Get-There any hay, corn 
or oats as he always feeds himself on 
invisible food." 

When he was out of sight Mr. Joyful 
stepped up to Plug and patted him on the 
neck, calling him ''Bonny." Plug pricked 
up his ears and turned his eyes mournfully 

— 39 — 



towards his new master. Mr. Joyful tossed 
the big whip into the ditch, and said: 
''Bonny, come with me, I have plenty green 
pasture where you can fill your belly in a 
few minutes ; nice clear spring water where 
you can quench your thirst, and then you 
can lie down in the shade and rest." Bonny 
was very willing to follow his new master, 
and soon found he had told the truth. 

So he ate all he wanted, had a refreshing 
drink and then lay down in the shade. He 
was so comfortable that he fell asleep, and 
slept and slept until he actually slept him- 
self away. 

Mr. Ugly arrived at the mill in just a few 
minutes; found the miller waiting for a 
grist, so the grain was soon ground and Mr. 
Ugly started for home. Get-There went so 
fast that Mr. Ugly actually lost his name on 
the way. He has a new name now, but I 
do not know what it is and will therefore 
have to call him Mr. Blank, 

On the way home he passed a country 
store where almost everything you could 
think of was for sale. When Mr. Blank 
thought of what Mr. Joyful had said about 

— 40 — 



not having to feed Get-There, he felt very 
rich, because it had taken almost all his 
money to buy feed for his other horse, so 
he stopped at the store and bought Susie 
a nice dress and other things he thought she 
would like, and also bought Johnny a pair 
of shoes and a fine top. 

Then he started up again and Get-There 
could not go any too fast for him. He 
drove into the yard with a loud ''hurrah V 
which woke Susie from a dreamless sleep, 
she was so tired and was not expecting him 
so soon. When she saw the new horse and 
the many things her husband had brought 
home she thought she must be dreaming, 
but finally she had to believe it to be true. 
It seemed all right to Johnny because his 
mamma had been telling him nice fairy 
stories that explained it all to him. Well 
the last I heard of Mr. Blank was at about 
the end of the three-year lease, and he had 
earned and saved enough money to make a 
good payment on the farm, so he bought it, 
fixed up the buildings in fine shape, and 
they were a happy family. Johnny was 
getting along nicely at school and his papa 

— 41 — 



and mamma were planning to send him to 
college. Susie was as rosy-cheeked as a 
school-girl, singing and whistling all the day 
long, and Mr. Blank feels himself compe- 
tent for any undertaking, all because he has 
a horse whose name is ''Get-There." 



''Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard 
To get her doggy a bone, 

And when she got there," she saw a sign on the 
door : 
"Standard Oil Company." 



TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. 

(A parody on the 23rd Psalm.) 

"The Politician is my Shepherd, I shall not 
want for anything in this campaign. 

He leadeth me into the saloon for my votes 
sake, and my cup of rum runneth over. He filleth 
my pockets with cheap cigars, and inquireth into 
my family, even to the fourth generation. 

Yes, though I walk through the mud and rain 
to vote for him and shout myself hoarse, when he 
is elected, straightway he forgetteth me ; though I 
meet him in his own home, he knoweth me not. 

Surely the wool hath been pulled over mine 
eyes all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in 
the house of a chump forever." — Anon. 

— 42 — 



THE A. B. C OF LIFE. 

"If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." 

One Mr. A, of Cheerytown, not feeling very well, 
Called the best doctors he could get, but died and 

went to hell. 
Now, when he found himself in hell, he was 

extremely dry, 
But couldn't find enough to drink to even wet his 

eye. 
When, driven to extreme disgust, he sought to 

dig a well; 
He dug a while, and held his breath, he couldn't 

bear the smell; 
He ceased to dig and looked around for rock or 

shady tree; 
There was not a single living thing as far as he 

could see. 
In deep despair he sat himself upon the burning 

sand 
To ponder o'er his dreams of life in a far better 

land. 
While Mr. A. was still on earth, he "wandered 

up and down" 
He wandered "to and fro therein," through city 

and through town. 
Where e'er he went a cheery smile was ever on 

his face, 
And friends around him always flocked at every 

stopping place. 
Cigars were free, and bowls did flow 'til prohibi- 
tion won, 

— 43 — 



And then his fertile brain found vent in joke 

and witty pun. 
He owned a cottage he called home and home it 

was indeed. 
The latchstring always hung outside, none turned 

away in need. 
However shabby, lame or blind, he always blamed 

the cause 
And not the man he saw beneath, formed by 

diviner laws. 
His prayer he wore beneath his vest, and lived it 

every day 
And cared not what his neighbors think or what 

his neighbors say. 
So, very good was Mr. A, for good he had to he, 
To be a Master Mason man of thirty-third degree. 
One only wall was ever built twixt him and his 

fellow man 
And that was built by Prejudice, and that he could 

not span. 
From early youth he had been taught the "cross 

back" to despise; 
Of all the cussed things on earth none equaled 

him in size, 
And were it not for this one thing he could not 

overcome 
Instead of hell now heaven might be for his 

eternal home. 
So while he sat on the burning sand and thought : 

"It might have been." 
He thought perhaps the cause might be in this his 

chiefest sin, 

— 44 — 



Why he was sent into the pit to while his time 

away, 
And now alas ! the times is past for him to even 

pray. 
So he arose and toward the east he went the 

weary road 
In search of something to divert his thoughts 

from his abode. 

^ % ^ ^ :{: 

Mr. B. was a loyal member of the Roman 
Catholic church, and lived in strict observ- 
ance of all its rites. He was moral and up- 
right as a rule, but being **of the flesh'' he 
was prone to err, and to make heaven secure 
in case of death he never failed to make 
confession to the "Holy Father'' and ask 
forgiveness. He had been taught from in- 
fancy to hate "Free Masons," for the reason 
that all members of that order had been 
excommunicated from the Mother church, 
years before he was born, with the bitterest 
curse that could be framed in human lan- 
guage. 

He was a traveling salesman, and being 
called to the wild regions of the west, he 
had occasion to go to a distant town which 
he could reach in much less time by a short 
but dangerous route. His time being limited, 
he decided on the short cut, taking a chance 

— 45 — 



which he had been cautioned against. On 
the way he was beset by robbers and in his 
effort at self defense lost his hfe. He had 
made one breach of righteous conduct which 
he intended to confess on reaching home, 
but this unexpected event sent him, on 
account of that one fault, plumb through 
purgatory into hell. 

He found himself alone, and not a living 
thing in sight. The burning sand was con- 
suming his feet, the sulphurous smell almost 
strangled him, and he was so thirsty that he 
drank the sweat that fell from his over- 
heated brow. He had no knowledge of 
direction, but where he was he could not 
stay, and mechanically started west. So he 
and Mr. A. approached each other, each un- 
aware of the other's presence until they 
came quite near. Mr. A. could see the cross 
and crucifix of Mr. B. and Mr. B. could see 
the masonic emblem and snowy white apron 
of Mr. A. There they stood glaring at each 
other, with hatred in their eyes, thinking the 
torments of hell enhanced by this untoward 
event. Suddenly a brilliant light burst forth 
between them and in the midst there stood 
a form like unto the ''Son of God!'' 



■46- 



He was clothed as were the shepherds of 
olden time, but his garments were snowy 
white, and he was leaning on a shepherd's 
staff. Casting the staff upon the ground, 
he stood erect, facing the south, and stretch- 
ing out his arms due east and west on a 
level with his shoulders, he stood a living 

cross. 

''My Lord and my God/' cried Mr. B. 
"Such a sight I never expected to see; 
My Lord and my Saviour in hell with me!" 
Mr. A. understood, he was taught by his mother 
To think of the Master as his "elder brother." 
"Come to me," said the Master," my erring sons" 
And they all joined hands, as the story runs, 
A. and B. each asked the other to be forgiven, 
When, like a flash, their hell was changed to 
heaven. 

3|: 3)c ^ 3^ 3|: 

Every organic structure is formed in the 
image and likeness of God, and is therefore 
a trinity, consisting of an outer, an inner 
and an inmost. The inmost is the life or 
formative power, and all growth and devel- 
opment is from within. 

The trinity of the atmosphere is air, ether 
and spirit, 

— 47 — 



The trinity of Christendom is : Roman 
Catholicism, Modern Free Masonry and 
Modern SpirituaUsm. 

But if spirituaUsm is the ''leaven/' which 
is to ''leaven the whole lump/' it must be 
blended with the ''flower'' of the kingdom, 
namely: the membership of the church of 
all denominations without respect to creed. 

S)C 3|C 2)C 2fC ^ 

Q. The trinity of Solomon? 

A. Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and The Song. 

Ecclesiastes for the "natural man/' Pro- 
verbs for the "moral man" and The Song 
for the "spiritual man." 

Although Solomon had a thousand wives 
and "half wives/' he reserved his love song 
for his "little sister/' the divine counterpart 
of his own soul, and the song alludes no 
more to a church than it does to a hen- 
house, as both are assumed to be for pro- 
tection of "chickens." 



—-48-— 



DREAMS. 

"Your old men shall dream dreams." 

WHERE is the Master of the house 
when Morpheus comes gliding in? 
The answer is a secret and so ever will 
remain to ears unhallowed by love of 
Nature. But I will tell it you, if you agree 
to treat it with that respect due to a great 
mystery. The Master never sleeps, but 
when aweary of his strenuous work, retires 
to a room especially prepared for him; the 
"holy of holies'' of the soul which the 
Father's glory filleth ever, and in his pres- 
ence doth he rest. 

Before retiring the Master sends his ser- 
vants to every room, each to his specific 
work. The Master's earthly temple, made 
in the image of himself, but subject to de- 
cay, must be repaired in every part where 
either honest toil, or excessive indulgence 
in sensual pleasure, has destroyed the units 
of the body which are required in vast 
armies to maintain the equilibrium of the 
organism and keep it fit for use ; the waste 
must be carried away through the avenues 
especially prepared, and the new material 
made ready by the stomach, heart and lungs. 

— 49 — 



And while this work is quietly going on 
the sleeper sleeps, perhaps he dreams. 
While the sun is up the Master rules the 
house; Morpheus hides away among the 
sunbeams ; but anon, when darkness settles 
o'er the earth, he seeks a playground in the 
mind of man. Material he has to use just 
as he finds it, but building is his nature, 
and build he must. If he finds a mind 
distraught by reason of indulgence in 
material things beyond requirements for the 
Master's use, he brings to his aid his retinue 
of imps and calls a dance upon the sleeper's 
brain. Then are his dreams fantastic, brok- 
en and unreal ; things com^e and go, appear 
and disappear without order or relation, yet 
at the time they seem to be quite real and 
true; but when the morning comes they 
vanish and the only witness that they were 
ever there are found in stomach, brain and 
nerve, all tending to distress. The very best 
that Morpheus can do for such an one, when 
morning comes and time to take his leave, 
is to impress upon the mind of him who 
sleeps, a sense of shame that he should by 
his excess deprive the Master of what is 
lawfully his own: a healthy body and a 
willing soul. 

There is another kind of dream that is 
not all a dream. It comes when man, with 
some fixed purpose in his mind, retires to 

— 50 — 



rest with body well attuned to Nature's law, 
and an unyielding problem in his workshop 
waiting for the Master's touch. Then comes 
the god of dreams and, seizing the material 
prepared and waiting for his use, finds 
greatest joy in doing for the sleeper what he 
cannot do for himself. Such dreams live 
on and on : and when Morpheus disappears 
to hide himself again within the circle of 
the light, the sleeper wakes and sees it all. 
How easy is the problem now, and he is 
proud to think he did it all alone. 

Some dreams Tve had belonging to the 
latter class. One I will venture to relate 
with all modesty and truth. 

'Twas when my thoughts were reaching 
out in search of Jesus. Of him I read, of 
him I heard, and yet I knew him not. What 
means "the Christ,'' and why should Jesus 
thus be called? 

I fell asleep. I knew not how or whence 
I came, but in a building of proportions 
large, and every portion filled with wheels 
immense ; with shafts and belts and pulleys, 
to all appearance for some mighty work in- 
tended; and as I stood, entranced, with 
wonder as to what it all could mean, there 
appeared before me in the midst, without 
warning of approach, a man of medium size, 
complexion dark, his clothing black, except 

— 51 — 



an apron white as snow, and even now I 
see him as he was. He slowly spoke to me 
and this is what he most distinctly said : 
''Do not spend too much time in getting 
acquainted with the teacher/' 

I have given his words exact. And all 
these years now more than thirty, and long 
before I knew that for which the white 
apron stood, I have sought to know the full 
intention of the dream. It has now been 
revealed to me that only self, the fleshly 
self, is the obstruction which must be remov- 
ed by him who seeks the light of Truth, and . 
through whatever means the knowledge 
comes, there is but one source: the ever 
living God. 



Note by the Author. — I am now employed in 
the time department of The McMyler-Interstate 
Company of Bedford, Ohio, which has the dis- 
tinguished honor of having produced the largest 
moving crane in the world now in use in the Gov- 
ernment ship-yard, at Philadelphia. The immense 
shop where the work was done was erected for 
the manufacture of guns and shells in time of 
war, but is now devoted to the furtherance of 
peaceful industry. 

My office is now in the corner of the shop 
where I can hear the roar of the machinery as I 
work, sounding much like the rapids below 
Niagara Falls. 

As I step to the door at the end of the shop 
I see the exact realization of the above mentioned 
dream, except that I myself am now entitled to 
wear the "white apron.'' 

— 32 — 



THE HOME. 

**Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in 
thee." 

Tkyf ORPHEUS had been kind to me. In- 
-*-^-*- to my restful slumber he came ghd- 
ing ; upon his arm he bore my lady love and 
then retired. Oh what bliss to be with her 
alone ! No painter could portray the beauty 
of her soul that shone through her trans- 
parent flesh. Her thoughts were as white- 
winged messengers of hght and shone into 
my heart revealing to me its imperfection. 
There I could see the longing of my soul 
that had appeared to me as pure love, which 
now I saw as but its shadow. 

I had desired to hold in my embrace the 
temple of her soul, regarding my own pleas- 
ure more than hers, whereas I now could 
see that if I lose my self and all the motiyes 
wont to spring therefrom, then would her 
wisdom and my love unite in the perfect 
harmony of heaven. 

I awoke refreshed. I bathed my eyes in 
the "water of life.'' My vision cleared and 
its range extended far beyond the limits it 
had known before. The vigor of my life 
filled my whole body, soul and spirit with a 
tempest of emotion. I cast about me for 

— 53 — 



some work to do, and then espied my 
garden. 

I called my servant and bade him bring 
me a spade. He disappeared and soon re- 
turned holding in his hand a tea-spoon and 
a table-fork. I rebtiked him, saying: ''Go 
use those tools yourself ; they may be strong 
enough to stir the shallow soil in your poor 
garden, but when I work in mine I want a 
spade bright and new, with handle strong 
that will not break when I use my whole 
strength upon it, a narrow blade that will 
not grasp more earth that I can lift when 
pressed into the soil beneath where the plow 
has ever gone. He went again and brought 
for me a ditching spade and a six-tined 
fork with handle stout and long and trusty 
tines. 

I hastened to my garden and began to 
work. Pushing down and down to a great 
depth, I pried and lifted until I brought to 
light earth upon which the sun had not 
shined for many, many years. The first 
spadeful came very hard and required all 
my strength, but as the work progressed it 
seemed like play, and never had I worked 
with half the pleasure. 

— 54 — 



My neighbor passing by, and seeing me so 
diligently engaged, halted and addressed me 
thus : 'Thou foolish man ! dost thou not 
know that all thy work is vain? No seeds 
can grow in earth like that; it has no life 
to reach up after roots and draw them 
down ; and even if they burst the shell that 
holds their latent life it will be only that 
they may die ; they never, never can repro- 
duce their kind." 

I knew that he was wise, and that / 
should never see the fruitage of my labor, 
but to prove to him that he was right and to 
show him that I little cared, I took the 
choicest seeds I could procure and planted 
them as carefully as though I hoped to reap 
a harvest. The sun sent down his light and 
heat and kissed my garden as he had always 
done before, although he knew it would not 
help me now ; the passing clouds took notice 
of my folly and wept; their tears of sym- 
pathy caused the seeds to look up with hope, 
and when the spirit of the earth breathed on 
them they leaped for joy and burst their 
shells. 

— 55 — 



I later walked in my garden knowing well 
what I should see, and my neighbor also 
came and without show of sympathy, but 
rather with sarcastic grin and a look: ''I 
told you so,'' passed on. 

The seeds had spent their entire strength 
of life in breaking through their prison 
walls, and there they languished upon their 
mother's breast, because she had for them 
no nourishment. As though my life had 
been prolonged that I might see, I looked 
again when the years had passed, and others 
had taken up my work. My neighbor's 
garden had gone out of use save for growth 
of weeds, and even they were scant and of 
a sickly hue, but where in mine the spade 
had been driven down so deep, fruit abund- 
ant, and flowers fragrant and beautiful, em- 
bellished every spot. 



■56 — 



EDEN. 

^TpHE human mind, as a imit, is, in gen- 
eral, the garden of God, and every 
individual mind his garden in particular. 
Every individual mind is a new creation. 
At the blissful moment of conception, God 
sends down from heaven one seed which 
enters the vortex of the new creation and 
determines sex. All else is left to environ- 
ment and the thoughts that cluster around 
that innate idea. The worker then begins 
to build the form that is to be its home on 
earth, the forming mind becomes its garden 
to cultivate and enjoy, and no one has a 
right to circumvent the purpose of Deity 
by appropriating, or even limiting the range 
of individual thought. 



Had the artist who painted the word pic- 
ture of *'Eden'' placed in the garden a 
bisexous babe instead of a full grown 
bisexous man, and hung the picture in the 

— 57 — 



art gallery of the world, the picture v/ould 
have yielded fruit of joy instead of fear; 
instead of lamentation o'er the "fall of man" 
the energy wasted thus would have united 
with the intelligence and zeal engaged in ex- 
ploration of the vast expanse of Nature, and 
every living soul would turn attention to the 
rise of man from the ^'lowest parts of the 
earth'' through all the kingdoms of nature, 
from the mineral kingdom even unto the 
''kingdom of God." 



— 58- 



"THE POODLE DOG." 

"Multiply and replenish the earth." 

/^H mamma, mamma, come and see. Oh 
such a pretty sight; it's Mrs. Reich- 
wine's poodle dog, she must have got last 
night, it is full grown and snowy white. 

I saw her walking round the lawn where 
she had walked since early dawn, leading 
that pretty, pretty thing by a silken cord 
and a golden ring. I couldn't see a single 
''kid." I never did in there, and when she 
saw me through the fence she gave a 
haughty stare; she never likes us ''kids" 
you know and turns from us where e'er we 
go. Oh mamma, I'd like to have a doggy 
too, but I w^ouldn't swap one "kid," would 
you? And we are six and poorly dressed, 
but we know that papa does his best. 

Say, mamma, why do the rich have dogs 
instead of "kids"; is it because their God 
forbids ? 

Hush darling, your questions are laid up- 
on the shelf ; let each one answer for her- 
self. 



REINCARNATION. 

^ I ^HE fact of reincarnation is not of in- 
-^ dividual entities, but of Truth, the ''I 
Am of Being" which will be incarnated 
again and again until the ''fullness of time'' 
when each individual of mankind comes to 
knowledge of himself. 



A Religious Creed: A noose about the 
neck to bind you back, to bind you fast; 
nothing but Truth can set you free. 

Three words that mean substantially the 
same: Evolution, Development and Pro- 
gress. Involution precedes evolution and 
all growth is from within. 

Mr. Darwin re-discovered what is clearly 
alluded to in the accepted version of the 
bible. 

Man's conduct is governed more by be- 
lief than by knowledge, and a falsehood 
convincingly told has the same effect as 
though it were true. 

— 60 — 



A WORD TO MY BACHELOR 
BROTHER. 

"Come let us reason together." 

NOW don't begin to bristle up ; Fm not 
going to offer you any advice; advice 
is too common and too free, so no one takes 
it anyway. I just want to ask you a few 
questions and make a few suggestions for 
you to think over when by yourself. 

Where would you ''come in'' if your 
father had thought as you think? Do you 
prefer single ''cussedness" — "Vm not 
swearing at you; Fm telling you," Cohn — 
to the possibility of double blessedness? 
What do you mean by your slighting re- 
marks about the way some of the ladies 
dress ? You don't say that about your own 
sister, do you? Oh no, it is the other fel- 
low's sister. You blush in public when you 
look upon that portion of the beautiful form 
exposed farther above the ankle and below 
the chin than you think comfort demands ; 
but, be honest with yourself now: if you 
could see and not be seen, would you not 
enjoy seeing her at the bath even as much as 
David enjoyed in observing the mother of 
Solomon while she was performing the same 

— 61 — 



act of cleanliness before she became his 
wife? 

Allow me to suggest that such an attitude 
of mind is evidence of your impurity rather 
than of hers. She tries to attract you be- 
cause it is her nature, and because you 
estrange yourself from her by your selfish- 
ness. It is her nature to love you and your 
duty to make yourself lovable; and she 
knows how to make your life worth living 
if you will furnish the opportunity; but if 
you don't care to marry, do you not think 
it would be very honorable in you to treat 
her at least as well as you would have the 
other fellow treat your own sister ? 

Kindly allow me to direct your attention 
to the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, where 
you will find the essentials of love pointed 
out, that love which commits no errors, and 
which, if ''made flesh'' by being incorporated 
into your daily hfe, will qualify you to 
become a husband. 

And, by the way, that chunk of wisdom 
was not set apart as a chapter by itself and 
numbered 13 as a ''happenstance" : 13 is a 
mystic number; the first figure signifies 
unity, the second trinity, and the combina- 
tion, completion; symbolizing the twelve 

— 62 — 



signs of the zodiac and the sun ; the twelve 
tribes of Israel and Abraham; the twelve 
apostles and Jesus; the twelve powers of 
mind with the ''I am'' at the center. 

I have no right to climb over the fence 
into your garden and tell you what to plant 
or how to care for ; but it has been revealed 
to me that your mind is not only your gard- 
en, but also the garden of God, and some- 
time you will hear his voice walking as did 
Adam and Eve after they discovered their 
nakedness ; then how will it be with you : 
will you clothe yourself in the seamless gar- 
ment of righteousness and go joyously forth 
to meet him with a glad welcome, or will 
you clothe yourself with the skin of an 
animal and go into the pig-sty to talk the 
matter over with the rest of the hogs? 

It is up to you, my brother ; I have asked 
my questions and made my suggestions and 
now bid you ''Farewell/' 



-63- 



A WORD TO MY BACHELOR 
SISTER. 

^TX WISDOM'S ways are ways of pleasant- 
^ ^ ness, and all her paths are peace/' 
Say, you haven't been reading what I told 
my brother, have you ? I don't want to hurt 
your feelings, they are hurt often enough 
and too often, but I am going to venture a 
little fatherly counsel, and I trust without 
offense. I know a woman's nature, and 
what the good God and Father of us all has 
planted in her heart. How tenderly it 
should be guarded that its fruit may come 
forth in perfection ''without spot or blem- 
ish." 

Beauty is yours beyond all beauty else, 
and I say this not to make you vain, but to 
make you thankful. The male artist who 
would choose for his model the most beauti- 
ful product of nature, invariably selects the 
female form. But great beauty, like great 
Vv/^ealth of gold, is a dangerous possession. 
Man is not yet man "in the full stature of 
a man in Christ," but sometimes proves him- 
self a brute, aye worse than brutes, because, 
endowed with highest possibilities, he sinks 
to lowest depths, and with him drags some 

— 64 — 



beautiful woman, pure as an angel before 
he robbed her of her purity. 

It is better to be single from the cradle to the 

grave 
Than to be a wife and mother and of a selfish 

man a slave; 
Better to wait the coming glory that the angels 

share with God 
Than submit to gibe and worry and a selfish hus- 
band's prod. 
Count it not as a misfortune and think of it as 

loss 
For your Father in his wisdom knoweth pure gold 

from dross; 
And a crown most surely waits you if your 

thoughts are pure and clean 
When you pass from earth's attraction to the 

realm as yet unseen; 
To a realm just as substantial as the earth you 

walk on here, 
But where shall be no sorrow, no sighing and 

no tear. 

It is well that in your efforts to attract the 
stronger sex you be prudent, because impru- 
dence most surely reflects, and to you good 
reputation is a richer prize than gold, for if 
lost your warmest friendships change at 
once to bitter cold. 

Welcome then good thoughts as angels, 
hold them firmly in your mind, 

For they are the best protection that you 
anywhere can find. 

FAREWELL. 

— 65 — 



AFFINITIES. 

"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh." 

IN these days of perversity and general 
''cussedness'' we sometimes hear of affini- 
ties being discovered outside the marriage 
relation, after two supposing themselves 
to be affinities have been joined in lawful 
wedlock. Such ''discoveries'' are liable to 
create quite a disturbance in the home 
circle, and sometimes are aired in divorce 
court. Such things are not only disastrous, 
but entirely unnecessary. The home is the 
foundation not only of church and state, but 
of heaven itself, and when a home is once 
established by law there can be no just 
cause for disruption if, yes if both parties 
to the contract have ''made flesh'' the word 
of scripture contained in the 13th chapter 
of 1st Corinthians. 

Marriage should not be considered as an 
acquisition but as a surrender. Here is a 
case in point where to save your life you 
must lose it. The evidence of love is willing- 
ness to sacrifice every selfish motive to en- 
hance the happiness of the loved one, and 
the reward is "sure and steadfast." 

— 66 — 



The Master said: "For this cause shall 
a rtian leave father and mother, and shall 
cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be 
one flesh/' He had no need to say that to 
the wife, she vv^ill cleave to her husband 
through ''thick and thin'' if he once wins 
her love and is true to her. 

But let him give her cause even to believe 
that he is seeking an affinity elsewhere, and 
woe be to him ! the intensity of her love is 
the only measure of her hate. 

Love between those of opposite sex, not 
having marriage, home and offspring as the 
objective ideal, needs to be most carefully 
guarded lest one or both be defrauded of the 
highest ideal to which human beings can 
attain, namely: that of being co-workers 
with God in peopling the limitless realms of 
space, called heaven, with his children. 

Mock modesty of parents in leaving their 
children in ignorance of the glorious possi- 
bilities of life and the tremendous respon- 
sibility of taking proper care of their bodies 
as temples of God, is inexcusable. When 
shall the wall of unbelief which hides the 
kingdom of heaven from human sight be 
broken down? 

If the kingdom of Divine Love and Wis- 
dom is ever to be established on earth it 
must first gain a foothold in the home. 

— 67 — 



"Home, home, sweet, sweet home, be it 
never so humble, there is no place like 
home/' 

The home is sometimes defeated of its 
object by too much restraint exercised by 
parents over their children. When the child 
arrives at the age to know that one way is 
better than another, no arbitrary authority 
should be employed in government, for then 
he becomes individualized and has a 
''garden'' of his own to tend, and suggestion 
will do much better service than dictation. 
Whatever resistance he is compelled to em- 
ploy to free himself from the minds of his 
parents, in a sense of dependence upon their 
judgment as to his conduct, sends him just 
so much further from home, and perhaps 
''to the bad." At that age he comes under 
the law of necessity, to which even God 
himself is subject, because he must he free. 
Home is for protection not for imprison- 
ment. 

The greatest men the world has ever known 
Graced mother's knee before they graced a throne : 
The holiest ground in presence of a god 
The ground on which a mother's feet have trod. 

"Little Betty Pringle had a little pig; 

It wasn't very little, and it wasn't very big; 

And one day Betty Pringle's pig lay down on the 

dung-hill and died." 
But the H. C. of L. still continues. 



THE BIBLE. 

"Did not our heart burn within us, while he 
talked with us by the way, and while he opened 
to us the scriptures?'* 

^T^O him who from early youth has been 
-^ taught to regard the bible with super- 
stitious awe, it is *'a mill-stone about the 
neck/' crushing him to earth and grinding 
him to ^'powder/' To the ''Grand Old Man 
of England'' it is the "Impregnable Rock of 
Holy Scripture," and to the man whose eyes 
are holden from spiritual things it is the 
worst book ever published ; but to him who 
in the combined use of intuition and reason 
goes beneath the surface of the letter into 
the spirit it is a source of inspiration, be- 
cause in it he finds evidence of divine illu- 
mination since first the flight of time be- 
gan. Divine Illumination, that Spiritual 
Rock that followed the children of Israel, 
and of which they drank while on their 
journey through the wilderness, and upon 
which the Master intends to build his 
church. 

And, because in such a man human reason 
is given sway, due allowance is made for 
the imperfection of the instruments which 

— 69 — 



the angels used In ministration of the word, 
and even of the angels themselves, who are 
but humans in a higher school, it becomes 
''a lamp unto his feet, and a light unto his 
path,'' and in his desire to become conscious 
of God for himself, he purifies his heart — 
secret thoughts — and the world soon be- 
comes aware that his lamp is lighted. 

The bad use to which the bible has been 
put is no cause why it should be discarded. 
That bad men have used it to defend their 
unholy desire for dominion over their fel- 
low men, and as an excuse for war and 
bloodshed, is no more cause for condemna- 
tion of the book, than the fact that the most 
powerful explosives and other manifesta- 
tions of power in nature have been used for 
unholy purposes is a cause for condemna- 
tion of nature. And the bible is only a 
part of the work of God, whose work is 
always being improved by man. 

Terrific storms at sea are necessary for 
purification and if ships go down we may 
learn from that the lesson that though the 
human soul — of which water is a symbol — 
be sometimes swept by furious storms, from 
the wreckage is always brought forth a bet- 
ter condition. 

— 70 — 



The lightning leaped from cloud to cloud 
for many years, sometimes missing the mark 
and shattering things upon the earth, to 
demonstrate the power of the air, before 
Franklin caught the inspiration of the de- 
monstration, and he and his associates and 
co-workers have shown that reason can 
utilize that of which superstition stands in 
fear. 

Almighty Father of the Universe teach 
us to live like men. Made in thy image and 
likeness, thou art as much dependent upon 
us as we are upon Thee. Help us to elevate 
our ideals of that which is just and right 
in thy sight. Help us to discover within 
ourselves the secret way unto thy throne, 
that thy seed implanted within our souls at 
the beginning may be furnished the proper 
environment for development and growth, 
that we may realize the glory and honor of 
Divine Sonship. — Amen. 



-71 — 



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